Written by former Senate education staffer and journalist Alexander Russo, This Week in Education covers education news, policymakers, and trends with a distinctly political edge. (For archives prior to January 2007, please click here. For posts after November 2007, please click here.) Comments on this blog are now closed.

By Alexander Russo April 16, 2007 at 9:01 AM

Meeting Brings No Headway in 'No Child' Stalemate Washington Post U.S. education officials and several Virginia school superintendents met yesterday to discuss tests for students with limited English skills under the No Child Left Behind law but made no progress toward solving a standoff over what the local educators call an unacceptable federal mandate. Negotiators Say Sallie Mae to Be Sold for $25 Billion NYT The nation’s largest education lender agreed to be sold to JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and two private equity firms. Textbook scandal reaches Congress USA Today A slow-motion scandal surrounding a federal ...

By Alexander Russo April 15, 2007 at 6:01 PM

Campaign '08 GOP Presidential Candidates Have Views On Education, Too Beantown Babies Not Getting Their Just Desserts (UPK) Media Matters Why Student Aid Is Bigger Than Reading First Bring Back "Eduwonk" Andy On The Hill Foresman Author Simmons Gets Reading First Subpoena Who Should Be On The Reading First Witness List Who Is Doug Carnine? NCLB News National Algebra 2 Test, From The States NCLB Reauthorization: "It's Going To Be A Brawl" Urban Ed Vallas Leaving Philly -- For New Orleans? News From Detroit: Let Them Eat Grapes Eliminating "C" Grades AERA Treating Academics Like Interns A Global Warming Initiative ...

By Alexander Russo April 13, 2007 at 11:34 AM

"At least eight top officials in the Education Department during the Bush administration either came from student-loan or related organizations or have taken lucrative jobs in that arena since leaving the agency," according to this WSJ story focusing on Sally Stroup and others (Did Revolving Door Lead To Student Loan Mess?). "Former Education Department staffers say a revolving door between the department and industry has led to lax oversight of federal financial aid." By and large, this story seems to be getting tons more attention and a faster response than the Reading First story has gotten -- I'm guessing because ...

By Alexander Russo April 13, 2007 at 11:28 AM

We all know that many lunchrooms and classrooms can be self-segregated by students, but apparently it's news in Ashburn, Ga. that the senior prom is going to be integrated this year (School plans 1st non-segregated prom - Race & Ethnicity)....

By Alexander Russo April 13, 2007 at 11:14 AM

Continuing its excellent AERA coverage, the EducationPR blog chronicles my absurd and irresponsible comments to education researchers on Thursday morning about what it's like to be an academic in the legislative arena (not much fun) and how to get research in front of legislators or their staff in ways that might have some positive impact (Come out of your academic cave �). What I learned at the session was that the disturbing experience of learning the policy process is not that uncommon -- everyone had a vivid story to tell -- and that some academics think it's easier to influence practice ...